RECYCLING OF THE WEEK: Clearly, we're getting a rehash of Deep
Space Nine's Kira/Odo plot. The isomorphism is only too obvious: Non-human character
(Odo/Doctor) falls for a beautiful, if sometimes rude, female character (Kira/Seven) who
wears absurdly tight spandex. He hasn't the guts to tell her, and so he keeps his feelings
under wraps. But his secret is discovered by someone who annoys him (Quark/Paris). Too
cowardly to act in person, he rehearses on the holodeck. Songs are sung. It doesn't taste
any better the second time around.

RECYCLING OF THE WEEK RUNNER-UP: The B-plot, with the gluttonous
ambassador on Voyager, smacked of that forgettable Next Generation
episode, "Liaisons." But the resemblance faded, and it was mainly filler, so I
guess it's not that important.

CRASH-AND-BURN OF THE WEEK: Always nice to see Harry going down the
tubes in a play for Seven.

UNMOTHBALLED SET OF THE WEEK: The return of the Sandrine's
holoprogram, not seen in nearly three years, was a welcome sight, at least when compared
to the junk that has replaced it as the crew's hangout over the past few years, i.e. the
third season's infamous beach resort, or this year's Chaotica stuff.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE OF THE WEEK: There's a few problems with the
notion of using Seven's Borg nanoprobes to sober up Voyager's guest. First, the
ethical dilemma of "operating" without his permission is dismissed rather
cavalierly. Regardless of whatever spiritual beliefs his people might have, he might have
objected to having Borg tech put into his body. Second, we learn of Yet Another
Borg Ability, namely that the Borg nanoprobes can be used to absorb Synthahol. If that's
so, why can't Seven safely drink the stuff, a fact which is mentioned in this very
episode? Shouldn't the probes be able to "adapt" to sober her up, so that she
doesn't strip down and dance on the tables? Hmm... on second thought...

IN-JOKE OF THE WEEK: Neelix offers B'Elanna cheese in the mess hall;
is this supposed to be a reference to the infamous "Get this cheese to sick bay"
incident in "Learning Curve?" It's either an MST moment or a dirty trick on the
writers' part, reminding everyone of that.

LAUDABLE STORYTELLING CHOICE OF THE WEEK: The good news is that
whitewashing the mineral trade negotiations was a Capital Idea, because it short-circuited
so many of Voyager's pitfalls (and pratfalls) in this area, i.e. lack of
explanation for the inability to replicate the stuff, goofy technobabble names and/or real
substances misused and misunderstood, surly forehead aliens attacking the ship, etc. The
bad news is that the plots we were shown weren't especially worthwhile, either.